Ariel Sharon stated in an interview that I read (I forget where but – definitely not a ‘yeshiva world’ type publication) that the state knew that a huge chunk of the USSR olim were not Jewish and it was sof maaseh bmachshava techila as the actual reason for the Russian Aliya of the early 90’s was in order to halt or at least stall the religious demographic takeover that was certain to change the nature of state of Israel. To bring over actual cossacks into Israel like liberman et Al was a way of regaining the control over the state they were quickly losing in the aftermath of the Begin years.
It is only fitting that the elements of the state which only wishes to dilute and mute Jewish identity would go on to make people who were brought to Israel to suppress Jewishness would be declared the actual Jews.
The halakhic discussions are beside the point. The whole point of these conversions, halakhic or not, is the dejudaizing of the state. It is unfortunate that many elements of dati Jews ascribe infallibility to the state like old school Catholics to the pope. And completely justify anything the state does. We should only be as subservient to Hashem as they are to there avoda Zara.